Expert Article

Are you scared of the dark and things that go bump in the day?

It may be a strange thing to ask but think about it. In the bright light of day our fears diminish and the tension and the shadows of the dark night fade away as the sun beams in your window.  It all seems a bit silly and you wonder what you were worrying about. Or is it just me?

I don't think so.  Research shows that everyone who steps out into unfamiliar territory experiences fear. Some may be scared of the dark and some not worried about that at all; I admit I'm a little jumpy a night after reading a crime thriller!

But there are other areas of your life where you probably experience some fear.  Once you begin to do something the fear lessens. It's almost immediate and you experience this exhilarating gush of relief.

For that very reason I push myself to do those things that make my heart beat faster. I don't like being scared - it makes me feel powerless.  I've found that it is far easier to face the fear and push through it than to sit and stew in my fear, worrying about how I'm going to handle it if/when it happens.

For entrepreneurs facing fears and overcoming challenges is a daily occurrence.  If you're not feeling slightly fearful you're probably stuck in your business.

I wish it were not the case but I know better.  The new project that took your breath away at the very thought of it, is now mundane and you implement the actions without thinking much about them.

This is great news because it shows you're making progress with your skill set. On the other hand you want to move forward and push through each new fear to get to the next level because otherwise you're standing still.

If you enjoy the thrill of entrepreneurship but experience roller coaster like emotions then you're not alone.  I think that is why entrepreneurship is so addictive.  There are days when I think, 'why do I do this? It's just too much.'

But then the days where I feel like I could take on anything and I am making a difference in my little bit of the world makes all the fears worthwhile.

Sometimes it goes smoothly and sometimes it doesn't!  What separates the winners from the losers or success from failure is the ability to keep on going so understanding that failure is only temporary and that everyone must overcome their fears to succeed.

Whether it's technology, public speaking, writing or working with clients that gets your heart racing, take comfort in the fact that moving through your fear (as long as the activity is something you really want to do) is your ticket to success.

I'd bet that not even Richard Branson escapes the feeling of fear on some occasions. It's probably the challenge of overcoming fear that gives him that dare devil rush and spurs him on to conquer ever more extreme heights.

I'm no dare devil with physical sports and to be honest it wouldn't interest me much but each little fear you break through as you take your business to the next level is a personal victory.

Next time you're fearful or something just isn't going right (but you know you need to do it) keep on keeping on. Take a deep breath and make a list of the actions you need to take to fix your issue or implement what you need to do.

If you don't know how to do it, find someone who does.  If it makes your heart beat faster and everything seems to be going wrong that is the time to stick with it and not give up.

Get it done and you'll go to bed tonight with a wonderful sense of euphoria and achievement rather than a sick feeling of worry in your stomach. Who knows maybe your fear of the dark will disappear and those things that go bump in the day won't frighten you quite so much because you'll know you can handle anything that comes your way.